Meanwhile, air force helicopters bombed a series of rebel bunkers in northern Mannar district Monday, a military statement said without giving details of casualties or damages.

It was not possible to obtain independent confirmation of the reported fighting. Both sides often release contradictory versions of attacks that take place in the embattled north, where access is restricted.

Fighting has escalated in recent months. The government has pledged to capture the rebel territory and crush the insurgents by the end of the year. Diplomats and other observers say the army has faced more resistance than expected.

The Tamil Tiger rebels have fought since 1983 to create an independent state for the island's ethnic minority Tamils who have suffered marginalization by successive governments controlled by majority ethnic Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
Discuss this story

Hindu,Jun 09, 2008.
Colombo (PTI): Acknowledging the contribution of Sri Lanka's armed forces in fighting "international terrorism", President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said giving democratic rights to the Tamils in LTTE strongholds was vital for ending militancy in the region.

"Our War Heroes are fighting with sacrifice of their lives to mark a full stop in Sri Lanka to international terrorism," Rajapaksa said, adding it was not possible to win a war with weapons alone.

For this it is necessary for the soldier who goes into battle to have trust and confidence in his leadership, he said.
More...Discuss this story

hindu.com,Monday, June 9, 2008 : 1850 Hrs.
Tiruchirapalli (PTI): Sri Lanka's separatist group LTTE has sent "favourable signals" for India's role as a 'mediator' to end the vexed ethnic conflict in the island nation, Sri a Sri Lankan Tamil Minister said here on Monday.
Addressing the media here, P Chandrasekaran Lankan Minister for Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication, said the LTTE had also evinced interest in Indian intervention and "favourable signals" had emanated from the outfit in this regard.
Chandrasekaran, also leader of Upcountry People's Front, an organisation representing plantations' Tamil workers of Indian origin, said he fervently hoped the Sri Lankan government too would welcome Indian intervention.
More...

Published: Mon Jun 9 12:40:26 EDT 2008

Fighting dirty in Sri Lankaatimes.com,Jun 10, 2008 .
BANGALORE - A series of bomb blasts in buses and trains in southern Sri Lanka in recent weeks has drawn attention to the increased targeting of civilians by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)...

AI tells LTTE to comply with law and respect civilian lifedailymirror.lk,Monday, June 09, 2008.
Statement made subsequent to bomb attacks on buses
The London based human rights group Amnesty International (AI) has urged the LTTE to comply with the rules of international law and to respect civilian life...

Sri Lanka: UN urges greater protection of civilians after bombs ...reliefweb.int,08 Jun 2008.
COLOMB0 , 8 June 2008 (IRIN) - The UN has renewed calls for increased protection of unarmed civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law after two attacks on 6 June targeted civilian buses, eight hours apart, leaving 24 dead and more than 80 injured...